Publications by authors named "Giovanna Traficante"

Aging syndromes are rare genetic disorders sharing the features of accelerated senescence. Among these, Mandibular hypoplasia, Deafness and Progeroid features with concomitant Lipodystrophy (MDPL; OMIM #615381) is a rare autosomal dominant disease due to a in-frame deletion in gene, encoding the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase delta. Here, we investigated how MSCs may contribute to the phenotypes and progression of premature aging syndromes such as MDPL.

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Context: Cytochrome C oxidase (COX) is the fourth component of the respiratory chain and is located within the internal membrane of mitochondria. COX deficiency causes an inherited mitochondrial disease with significant genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Four clinical subtypes have been identified, each with distinct phenotypes and genetic variants.

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Purpose: Pathogenic LZTR1 variants cause schwannomatosis and dominant/recessive Noonan syndrome (NS). We aim to establish an association between heterozygous loss-of-function LZTR1 alleles and isolated multiple café-au-lait macules (CaLMs).

Methods: A total of 849 unrelated participants with multiple CaLMs, lacking pathogenic/likely pathogenic NF1 and SPRED1 variants, underwent RASopathy gene panel sequencing.

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Article Synopsis
  • KMT2C and KMT2D are important enzymes that modify genes, with KMT2C haploinsufficiency recently linked to Kleefstra syndrome 2, a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with unknown clinical details.
  • A study involving 98 individuals found that most pathogenic variants in KMT2C span nearly all its exons, making variant interpretation difficult; the study also established a KMT2C DNA methylation signature for better classification of the disorder.
  • Key features of KMT2C-related NDD include developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and distinct facial characteristics, setting it apart from similar conditions like Kleefstra and Kabuki syndromes, indicating the need for its renaming and
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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on "episignatures," which are unique DNA methylation patterns used as biomarkers for diagnosing various genetic syndromes, particularly neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Researchers analyzed DNA methylation changes in 65 genetic syndromes, identifying specific differentially methylated probes (DMPs) and regions (DMRs) associated with these conditions.
  • Findings indicated that DMPs and DMRs were mostly located in gene promoters and pathways related to neurodevelopment, highlighting a connection between gene mutations and altered DNA methylation profiles in these disorders.
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Overlapping clinical phenotypes and an expanding breadth and complexity of genomic associations are a growing challenge in the diagnosis and clinical management of Mendelian disorders. The functional consequences and clinical impacts of genomic variation may involve unique, disorder-specific, genomic DNA methylation episignatures. In this study, we describe 19 novel episignature disorders and compare the findings alongside 38 previously established episignatures for a total of 57 episignatures associated with 65 genetic syndromes.

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-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) is an umbrella term referring to various clinical entities, which share the same pathogenetic mechanism. These conditions are caused by somatic gain-of-function mutations in , which encodes the 110-kD catalytic α subunit of PI3K (p110α). These mutations occur as post-zygotic events and lead to a gain of function of PI3K, with consequent constitutional activation of the downstream cascades (e.

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Purpose: To describe genetic analysis, treatment results, and complications of patients affected by retinal capillary hemangioblastoma (RCH) in von Hippel Lindau (VHL) syndrome.

Methods: We collected 17 patients with VHL syndrome, who underwent a molecular test and an ophthalmic evaluation at the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital of Florence from January 2005 to February 2020. We focused on eyes showing RCHs examined using color fundus photographs, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography.

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Type 1 Chiari malformation (C1M) is characterized by cerebellar tonsillar herniation of 3-5 mm or more, the frequency of which is presumably much higher than one in 1000 births, as previously believed. Its etiology remains undefined, although a genetic basis is strongly supported by C1M presence in numerous genetic syndromes associated with different genes. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) in 51 between isolated and syndromic pediatric cases and their relatives was performed after confirmation of the defect by brain magnetic resonance image (MRI).

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic forced a pediatric medical genetics department to adjust its services, prioritizing safety and efficiency.
  • During a specified period, they evaluated 288 scheduled appointments, deciding which consultations could be conducted in person or via telemedicine.
  • The shift towards telemedicine was embraced, with 75% of parents feeling they would cancel visits due to infection fears, highlighting telemedicine's potential for future clinical genetics practice.
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Primary distal renal tubular acidosis is a rare genetic disease. Mutations in SLC4A1, ATP6V0A4, and ATP6V1B1 genes have been described as the cause of the disease, transmitted as either an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. Particular clinical features, such as sensorineural hearing loss, have been mainly described in association with mutations in one gene instead of the others.

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Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare disease characterized by deficiency in development of structure derived from the ectoderm and is caused by mutations in the genes EDA, EDAR, or EDARADD. Phenotypes caused by mutations in these three may exhibit similar clinical features, explained by a common signaling pathway. Mutations in EDA gene cause X linked HED, which is the most common form.

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Background: Agenesis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare congenital abnormality, sporadically reported to be associated with a combined congenital hypopituitarism. Nevertheless, only a few cases have been extensively described, and none of these have been characterized by an isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency.

Case Presentation: Here, we describe a 17-year old boy referred to our hospital for fatigue, decreased muscle strength and severe headache reported after the cessation of rhGH treatment for a GH deficiency diagnosed at the age of 2 years and 3 months.

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This is the first reported case of fetal pericardial effusion in association with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy and hypocortisolism from a nonautoimmune cause. Our hypothesis is that in experienced hands and after accurate genetic counseling, isolated pericardial effusion can constitute an indication for a severe metabolic disease.

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Objective: SOX3 is located on the long arm of the X chromosome (Xq27.1) and both the under- and over-expression of this gene have been reported in cases of hypopituitarism with or without intellectual disabilities. Nevertheless, only a few cases have as yet been extensively described.

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